Produced by: BT Desk
It is the fourth most common cancer in women, caused by the abnormal growth cells in a woman's cervix or the entrance to the uterus from the vagina.
Model Poonam Pandey reportedly died of cervical cancer. The news of the 32-year-old's sudden death was shared by her team through her Instagram page.
In India, cervical cancer accounts for 10% of all cancers in women. 3,48,186 deaths happened last year due to this. While common, cervical cancer is also one of the most treatable forms of cancer if detected early. In later stages, the disease can be controlled through proper treatment.
Human papillomavirus or HPV is the cause of 99% cases of cervical cancer. It is a common sexually transmitted infection which affects the throat, genitals and the skin. Almost all sexually active people will be infected at some point in their lives, usually without symptoms, says WHO.
Young mothers, hormonal contraceptive users, smokers and those with sexually transmitted infections are at a high risk of developing cervical cancer.
In majority cases, the virus is handled by the immune system. However, persistent infection can lead to the growth of abnormal cells which can turn to cancer.
A simple pap test can detect cancer cells in the cervix. This test can also detect abnormal cells that might change and become cancerous. Testing for cervical cancer should begin as early as 21 to 29 years.
HPV vaccines are safe and crucial in preventing this type of cancer. India's first HPV vaccine called Cervavac was launched in January 2023.
In her Interim Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the central government aims to encourage vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14 years for the prevention of cervical cancer.